Concealable desk pad



Oct. 7, 1941. M. E. TROLLEN CONCEALABLE DESK PAD Filed July 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm MHRTIN E. TRULLEN Oct. 7, 1941. M. E. TROLLEN CONCEALABLE DESK PAD Filed July 21 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' E. T uLLEn i lllir Patented Oct. 7, 1941 CONCEALABLE DESK PAD Malin ii. T rmre'n, st. Paul, Mata, assign); fro

B'r'ow'i1j& 'Bigelow, St. Paul, Minn, a corpora- "ties of Minnesota Application July 21, 1939,Serial No. 285,682

5 Claiiiis.

My invention relates to an improvement in desk memorandum pad wherein it is desired to provide a pad which is normallyconceal'ed from view but which is readily'accssibl e when it is desired for use.

Desk memorendum pads of numerous types have been previously eonstructed. Certain of these pads h'a'vebeen provided with covers which conceal the material writtenupon the pad from view. These former constructions,'however, have fa definite disadvantage. The pads are made to support a varying number of sheets, and as "the pad is used, fewer sheets remain thereupon. Therefore, a cover 'of the ordinary type used upon the pad will not fit down properly upon thesheet-s-regardless of the thickness of the pad. Thus fc'over taste-m s would detract from the app'earance of the pad rather'tha'n improve the appearance. 7

I it is a feature of my inventiontopr'ovide a desk memorandum pad mounted upon a rigid base and to provide a cover hingedly secured to the base capable of concealing the pad regardless of whether one sheet or a maximum number of sheets remains on the pad. The construction thusprovidedremains neat regardless of the degree of depletion of the pad, and the cover fits place the same way when the pad is newas when mostof the sheets are used.

It is a feature of my invention to provide atonstr uction in which the pad is concealed within abdx-lilre container. A cover is provided hingedly secured to-the base and springs are interposed between the base and cover to normally urge the cover into open position. A latch 'holds'the cover in closed position, and by merely releasing this latch, the cover will move under spring tensiorr iiito6pen position.

It is a feature of my invention to provide dampening springs in additionto thefspringsfor urging the eover into open'position. Thesedainp ening springs tend to urge the cover toward a midway openposition, butare notas strong as the spring urging the -cover-into full open position. r Thesesprings assist the opening action of the cover when more force is required to pivot the cover, but act to dampen this opening movement so thatas thecover approaches fully open position, these springstend to slow the pivotal'mo r ,3

my invention will be more elearly andfully set forth in the following specification'and claims.

Inthe'drawihg's forming a part of'my "specification: Y

Figure l isi'a perspective view'of iny'desk'pad in closed position.

Figure 21s a perspective view'of the same in fully openedp'osi'tion.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, longitudinally through my desk memorandum pad on a plaiie through one of the paper re"- t'aining studs.

Figure "4 is a rearerid vies/"of my"desk memoranduin pad in "closed position.

Figuifefi is a cross-sectional view'centrally and longitudinally throughan end of 'in'y desk'niemo- 'randur'n "pad inpartiallyeperied"position.

l 'i'giir'e 6 is a detail view of the hinged edges of my desk meiiierahdumpad-im open position.

a The desk menmemaein pad A includes ato tainer portion having a top I0 an'd'a base o'rbottom portion ll andhaving mounted upon the base H 'a pad of sheets B. Thebase H includes a rectangular body member 12 having upturned sideand endflanges [3. A stifiening or r einforcing member M overlies the may portion ltfon the base'and a lining sheet I5 extends ever-the 'reinibrcing member {4 and body portion t2. A covering sheet l6 overlies the outer surface of the upstanding flanges 1'3 and this'm'arginal cov- 'ering sheet iolds over'the marginaledge of the base toprovide aflange I! along the edge of the bottom .of'th'ebody portion I12. A bottom covering sheet 19 is secured to thelower surface of the body portion I 2 in "overlapping relation with the flange IT toentir'ely conceal the body portion i2. Areinforcing"channel shaped edg'efzll completely encloses'the upstanding flangededge's I3.

Anchored between "the anchoring member ['4 andthe body portion [2 I provide a head 2| of a stud "22 whieh projects upwardly through areinforcing member 4 and the lining sheet [5. "A pair of these studsj2 2 projects upwardly "from thebase nearbrieend thereof inspacedfrelation. s stiidsare'designed toextendjthroughperforations in "the "pad of sheets B and resettlemefagifie internally threaded sleeves 2 3 jug a ea .24 at "their upper ektremities. Th head za illustrated in Eigure 2 engages "the top sheet of the pad B to hold. the various sheets placef V T e c r 1 9 c es a .z p b y. with 25 having marginallydownwardly extending flanged edges 26 about the periphery of thes ame. A lining sheet 21 is adhered to the under surface of the body and to the inner surface of each of the flanges 26. An outer covering sheet 29 is adhered over the outer surface of the body portion 24 and the flanged edges 26. A channel 30 preferably formed of metal or other relatively stiff material encloses the marginal edge of the flanges 26 together with the respective covering and lining sheets 29 and 21 respectively.

A hinge 3| connects one end of the base H to a corresponding edge of the top I0. The opening movement of the cover with respect to the base is limited by pairs of rods 32 and 33. The rods 32 are secured to the channel 20 on the upstanding flange |3 of the base l2, while the bars 33 are secured to the channel 30 on the peripheral flanges 26 of the cover l0. When in open position as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the bars 33 are moved into engagement with the bars a 32, limiting the opening movement of the cover H] with respect to the base I I.

In order to urge the cover into open position, I provide a spring 34 which surrounds the pivot shaft of the hinge 3|. 'One end 35 of the spring 34 is anchored to the base I I, while the other end 36 is secured to the cover I0, this spring 34 tending to pull the cover I0 into the open position illustrated'in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings as soon as the latching means holding the pad closed is released.

The latch comprises a keeper 3'! which is secured to the channel 30 of the top I3 as best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, and a pivotal hook latch 39 which is secured to the base A strap 4|] bent into a loop shape extends about a wire spring 4| positioned within the channel 2B. This spring 4| is merely an elongated spring wire soldered or otherwise affixed to the inner surface of the channel and tending topull the strap 40 inwardly. In disengaging the hook V latch 39, it is necessary to pivot the hook portion 42 of the latch out of engagement with the keeper 31. This is done by merely pressing down on the handle portion 43 of the latch which flexes the spring 4| to some extent and permits the opening of the cover |0. When the downward force is removed from the handle portion 43, the spring 4| moves the hook latch 39 into its normal position. The keeper 31 is so shaped that it will automatically engage the hook portion 42 of the latch as the cover I0 is closed. A pair of springs 44 connect the top H) with the base II and assist in the opening of the cover and at the same time retard the opening of the cover moving into fully open position. The springs 44 are provided with a loop end 45 which is pivoted to one side of the channel 20 on the base H and a loop portion 46 'of. In other words, if the spring 34 were eliminated, the springs 44 would open the cover or top In to a point midway between closed position and open position. The springs 44, however, are

not as powerful as the spring 34, and therefore the spring 34 acts to open the cover or top into fully open position. p

It will be seen that-when the cover is in closed I position, the coil 41 will be compressed beyond its normal point and the spring 44 will provide a tendency to open the cover l0; Thus the springs 44 supplement the action of the spring 34 as the cover starts to open. As the cover l0 pivots beyond a central position, however, the springs 44 open beyond their normal position and act to retard the opening of the cover. The greater the cover It) is open, the more tension is placed on the springs 44. Thus as the spring 34 moves the cover Ill into open position, the opening movement is retarded to such an extent that the cover It will move relatively slowly into fully open position and therefore no jar will accompany the limiting of the pivotal movement.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction of my desk memorandum pad; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that this is only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention, and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit'of my invention.

I claim:

1. A desk pad device comprising a base, a cover hinged thereto movable between open and closed positions, pring means urging said cover into open position, a latch for holding said cover closed, a second spring means weaker than said first named spring means retarding movement of said cover into either open or closed position, and a pad of paper on said base.

2. A desk pad device comprising a base, a heavy flat reinforcing sheet substantially the area of said base, a pair of spaced studs projecting through said reinforcing sheet and upwardly from said base, a cover pivoted to said base, a

pad of paper on said base having perforations therethrough through which said studs extend,

and internally threaded sleeves adjustably secured on said studs having heads thereon to bear upon the top of said pad.

3. A desk pad device comprising a base, a pad mounted thereon, a coverhing ed to said base and movable between open'and closed positions, a spring tending to open said cover, means tolimit pivotal opening, movement, spring means weaker than said first named spring-tending to hold said cover in a semi-open position and retarding movement toward both open and closed positions and means normally holdingsaid cover in closed position.

4. A desk pad device comprising a base, a pad mounted thereon, a cover hinged to said base movable between closed and open positions, a spring urging said cover into open position, a pair of opposed springs connecting said cover and said base, said pair of springs being relatively weaker-than said first named spring, said pair of springs tending to urge said cover from both open and closed positions toward a partially open position and retarding the movement of said cover into either extreme position, and releasable means to hold said cover in closed position. I

5. In combination, a base, a closure pivotally secured to said base'to move between two extreme positions, a spring tending to pivot said closureinto one of said extreme positions, and a second spring relatively weaker than the first mentioned spring, tending .to'ur'ge said closure from both of said extreme positions toward an tions.

MARTINE. TROLLEN. 

